Ohio boy, 11, finds possible world record sand dollar during Florida vacation

DESTIN, Fla. — An 11-year-old Ohio boy visiting Florida for a family vacation might have found the world's largest sand dollar.

Syler Elliot, of Newark, Ohio, was visiting Destin when he went on a boat ride with his father and uncle on Monday and saw the sand dollar in the water, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported.

"I thought it was just going to be a little thing," Elliott told the Northwest Florida Daily News. "I feel so happy and excited about it."

Elliott dove into about 15 feet of water and pulled out a sand dollar 6-inches in diameter. It is being safely stored until it can be certified by Guinness World Records.

The current record is a 6.49-inch sand dollar found by a fourth-grader while visiting Mexico, according to UPI. The previous record was a nearly 6-inch specimen found in Florida.

Family members believe if it’s not world record-setting, it will set a state record.

“It’s definitely going to be a new Florida record, which we think is really cool,” Elliot’s grandfather, Ben Rodgers said. “A kid from Ohio finds a Florida record sand dollar. Plus, being 11, he’s not a professional diver; he just loves the outdoors. It’s a whole series of neat experiences for us.”

Cox Media Group